The Majors Way

By Karl Paffen

Major Mark Patterson (retired USMC) is a simple man with a great love for family, friends, and most of all, his country! He has faced many enemies of the latter. This time, he is involved in the taking down of a man who is trying to ruin his loves! Jose Chicaro is just this kind of man he despises! Mark takes this personally, and he goes after Chicaro with a vengeance! He has just a few friends to help him on this quest to stop the drug cartel, one of them being Colonel John Stork (Jon)--his old and dear friend! Together they go after Chicaro to try and stop this threat to all our freedoms!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Fulton Books, Inc.
• Release date: Jul 19, 2022
• ISBN: 9798885052160

Book preview

PROLOGUE

Major Mark Patterson is a retired major in the USMC. He spent thirty years of his life devoted to the corps. At the age of eighteen, he enlisted into the Marine Corps. His first tour of duty was one year in ’Nam. During that tour, he decided that the corps would be a good career. In his second year, he did another tour, and during that tour, two things happened. He earned two of his many medals to come: one was a Purple Heart, and the other the Silver Star. Both these medals were earned on the same mission.

His career was up and running. In 1975, the war in Vietnam ended with the fall of Saigon, thus ending his involvement in ’Nam. The years sped by with a few of them spent at different Marine bases of some sort for Marine training of one sort or another.

In 1979, and with the Khomeini takeover, new happenings were opening up in the Middle East. From 1979 to 1991, a lot of uproar kept things humming in the Middle East. The Persian Gulf War did quiet things for the US for a short while. That’s when things seemed to be quiet…until September 11, 2001.

Now the major, like everyone else, was really pissed off! He thought that when he officially retired in 2000, he would be able to do just some fishing and loaf around. Wrong! September 11 changed a lot for him and a lot of other people—new beginnings, one might say.

The years at the Pentagon served him well. He got to meet a lot of important people including his best friend, Colonel Stork. John was his first name, but the major liked calling him Jon. For the next ten years, he dealt mostly with the 9/11 aftermath, looking for and finding a lot of bad people.

These bad people led to another breed of baddies.

These other bad people were mostly people of large drug cartels. With the help of Jon, the general George Caldwell, and Richard F. Buckley, the attorney general, he learned all about drug cartels and how they thought and operated. He grew to really hate these people, and he wanted to get as many in prison as he could.

This brought him to where he was now, and he meant business. The team went to work, and work hard they did!

CHAPTER

1

It was a typical day, like any other day. The major was starting it the usual way. It seems a little warmer this morning, he thought. The temperature was five degrees higher than yesterday morning. The sun was rising off to the east. There was a very bright sunrise this morning! He was slowly getting dressed in his running attire. After he was done getting ready, he went to the kitchen for a cup. The brewer was making its usual sputtering noise like it always did when it was done brewing. He poured a cup and sat down to enjoy the coffee. He like to catch the channel 5 news before his run.

The news was full of the usual things, but then came on something that really got his attention. It was an item about a teenage girl who died from the use of some bad ecstasy. It was thought to be merchandise that was from a drug cartel run by Jose Chicaro. The US DEA figured that after the imprisonment of his former boss, Julio Modesto, Chicaro took over his empire.

Modesto was a heavy in the cartel business; he had his operation set up on an island off Yucatan, Mexico. A lot of bad drugs came from the island, and Modesto was making a boatful of money. So much money was being made for him that he could afford anything he wanted. Through an Iraqi arms dealer, Odai Sahime Said, he managed to get his hands on a small nuke weapon. What he had planned for such a weapon was anyone’s guess.

After a well-planned assault on the island, Modesto was captured and stopped. All his holdings and assets were confiscated. Modesto was imprisoned in a federal prison. It was believed that was when Jose Chicaro took charge of the now run out of Colombia operation.

The news of the dead girl was surely disturbing to the major. Even worse was that there were a lot more stories like hers! He made a mental note to himself that he would bring this up in the meeting at the Pentagon this morning. He knew that his friend Jon would feel the same as he did. So would General Caldwell, and the three of them would work on Attorney General Buckley.

He started his morning run. He always liked the direction he began. This route always brought him past a good friend’s house. Her name was Nancy, and she was a widower. She was an interesting lady and fun to be around. He was hoping that she would be waiting to join him on the run. Nancy was ready and raring to go.

Good morning, Nan. All set to join in?

You know I am, Mark!

Well, come on, then, ole girl.

Every time you ask the same question, and what is it with the ‘old girl’ crap!

"I did not say old girl. I said ole girl. I know you’re not old. I do, however, think that your hearing is bad."

Okay, Mark, you are forgiven for the old part, but my hearing is fine!

Now we will see if your feet work as good as your ears.

Did you hear that crap about the young girl on the news?

Yeah, Nan, I did, and I think it’s about time we do something about it, not just to report it on the news but to get the bastards who caused it!

That’s easier said than done, Mark.

I hear what you are saying, but that does not mean I have to stand for it!

For the rest of the run, not much else was said, and at the end, he wished her a good day. Back home he started to get undressed for a nice, hot shower. After his shower, he got dressed in some casual wear, which meant Levi’s and a T-shirt. He knew that today was okay for casual clothes; the meeting at the Pentagon was low-key.

The ride into DC seemed to be longer, and that made sense. There were more people working in the nation’s capital, so of course, that meant more cars on the highways. Twenty-plus years ago, the traffic was bad, but it seemed that it had doubled.

He arrived at the parking lot he always used in good time. It was a lot bigger these days, but it still wasn’t big enough. It would probably never be big enough due to the fact that they ran out of room to expand. He just shook his head and chuckled to himself. I guess more people will have to park in the outskirts and shuttle-bus it to work. Again, the head shake.

He spotted a friend of his pulling into his usual spot. The man driving gave him a smile and a quick wave. He decided to wait for him and walk into the building with him.

Good morning, Mark.

Hi-ya, Pete, how are you doing this fine morning?

About the same as always, nothing much new in my life, Mark.

Yeah, same thing with me.

Yeah right, Mark, as if you ever h ad a dull life! Ha-ha!

They walked in the entrance together, and once they were inside, they went their separate ways. Mark headed for his office, but partway he stopped. He thought he would stop at the coffee shop to get a cup to go. After he retrieved his cup, he continued on to his office.

His office was about the size of a large cubicle. He thought, You would think that after twenty-plus years, I would have a bigger office. Oh well, que será, será.

He didn’t have a secretary, but he guessed that he’d never need one. His lower salary grade at the Pentagon didn’t merit one. Higher and more strategic personnel merited a secretary. Most of his work consisted of paper pushing and a lot of staff meetings. His opinion at these meetings were highly appreciated, and his input was always respected. In the long run, he did enjoy all of his job.

It was almost time for the first meeting, and it was the one he really wanted to be at! In ten minutes, he would head up to the conference room. He gathered all the notes and material he needed, and minutes later, he left his office. He then thought he better hit the head before he got there. There was nothing worse than interrupting a meeting for a piss call.

CHAPTER

2

He must be early because there was only one man there. He was an LTJG, and by the looks of him, he was straight out of Annapolis. The JG was looking at him in an odd way—the way someone looks at another person suspiciously. Mark imagined that it was due to the fact that he was not in a proper uniform. He was about to say something to him, then a female petty officer entered. Mark knew this gal, and she knew who he was. I’ll let her make all the necessary introductions.

Hello, major.

When she said that, the JG looked at him in awe and wonder.

There goes that problem, Mark thought.

She continued to explain to the JG who he was.

Now the JG was really in awe and made a shaky apology. Sorry, major, for not recognizing the grade, but your dress, you know, took me by surprise.

No need to worry, lieutenant. I’m not still active military. I guess that the Levi’s and T-shirt can be quite a determent. I’m glad the petty officer made that clear right up front. I’m not here as an active officer. I’m just a part-time adjutant, a retired marine. Matter of fact, I’m waiting for real military people. I have a meeting with the now late Colonel Stork and General Caldwell.

I’m the general’s aide. He should be her momentarily.

Good, I’ll have to tell the general what a fine aide he has!

A few minutes later, the general and the colonel walked into the conference room. The petty officer and the JG stood and snapped to attention.

At ease, and as you were, barked the general! He and Jon gave Mark the evil eye.

Mark put his hands up and gave a little shrug. At least I was on time, gentlemen.

You could have made things seem like we were a little more important by wearing some other attire, major.

Why should I be any different this late in life? You wouldn’t know me if I did.

This comment got a little laugh out of Jon and the general.

Let us get started then, replied the general. Did you hear the news on channel 5 this morning, Mark?

You mean the one about the girl? Yea, and it made me sick. I, for one, am really pissed off! So let’s get a plan together and get some of these bastards off the streets!

I concur, Jon threw in. Who do you think is our number one bad guy?

This is a good question. There are so many to choose from, thought Mark. My first choice would be Jose Chicaro. He was Modesto’s main guy on the plantation just outside Bogotá, Colombia. The word is that he is now married to Modesto’s ex-wife. With her money and his knowledge of the business, they can afford anything. We couldn’t connect him to anything back then, but my gut is telling me that he would be the best place to start.

I agree, Mark, but how do we go about tracking him? General Caldwell said.

If we can get Buckley in solid on this, we might have an easier time with everything. As the attorney general, he has a lot of pull around DC.

He’s due to be here today, but I’m afraid he got held up. I’ll make some calls, see if he’s handy, and find out where the hell he is, Caldwell said. The general told his aide to start calling around to find the attorney general ASAP! He then looked at both Jon and Mark and said, Let’s get down and dirty!

Jon interjected,